Wilder: Klitschko’s Name Won’t Get Him A Title Shot

With rumors of Wladimir Klitschko’s return to boxing continue to persist, WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says the former champion needs to earn his seat at the table.

“We’ll still have to see what he does, Let him get back in and build him up,” said Wilder in preparation for his title defense against Dominic Breazeale on Saturday.

“Look, Klitschko, when he fought (three-belt champion, Anthony) Joshua, he was out for two years. He came back and lost so he got to build himself back up.

“He can only live off his name for so long. You get to the point where (you’re not) that fighter that you used to be.”

Wilder, who trained with Klitschko prior to the former unified champion’s retirement, praised the Ukrainian’s accomplishments, but the past is the past.

“I can’t say used to be somebody because he’s still somebody. He’s still Klitschko, he did amazing things in his career and you can never take that back,” the champion said. “Even when I went into camp with him, I learned a lot of things from him. So you can never take that from him.

“But the fighting scene, when you come back, you gotta build yourself back up. Especially against someone like me, because I’m coming in for the kill.

“Klitschko had many times to challenge me. Every time he comes back, ain’t nobody mentioning Deontay Wilder’s name because they know that this is a tough fight.”